Hope & Sorrow is the sophomore effort
from France’s Wax Tailor (also known as DJ and producer
JC le Saout), the follow up to the acclaimed Tales of The Forgotten
Melodies, a stunning debut that topped charts worldwide. Wax Tailor
has proven to be a master of sampling, which is an art form in
and of itself. Layering and arranging samples expertly is often
difficult to pull off on just one track, but Hope & Sorrow
keeps that skill in high gear from beginning to end. There are
going to be the inevitable descriptions of this being a cinematic
venture, which is absolutely true here, just as it was in the
previous album.
With the help of a large cast, including
Voice, The Others, and spoken word goddess Ursula Rucker, the
story of Hope & Sorrow rolls out over several distinct movements,
and you won’t find any shortage of excellent selections.
The album opens with Once Upon A Past, a track with stumbling
beats and a showdown aura. Next, Sharon Jones paints soulful cabaret
melodies over The Way We Lived. Beyond Words combines down tempo
jazz aesthetic with a classic lounge air. To Dry Up has a mischievous
beginning that inches forward, carrying Charlotte Savary’s
honeyed voice throughout this orchestral track. But the standout
for me is Sometimes, a show-stopping interlude flavored with plenty
of jazz form, circling funk beats, and haunting flute accents.
Despite the often eerie feel of the vintage samples, optimism
rides on each of these melodic tracks.
The
spectral vocal samples, brass, and strings mix perfectly with
the juggled beats, taking you all across the globe, from one era
to the next. All of this blends together to create a masterpiece
of an album that is sure to set Wax Tailor up as a turntable icon.
(Angie Pardue)
|
